X House Alentejo by NTYPE

Contemporary Rammed Earth Residence in Portugal

Designed by NTYPE, the X House in Alentejo is a striking example of contemporary architecture that draws from tradition while embracing modern living. Located along the Alentejo coast of Portugal, a region with a rich heritage of rammed earth construction, the house harmonizes with its rural surroundings through materiality, form, and landscape integration.

Completed in 2022 with a total area of 258 m², the single-story residence is shaped by the slope of the terrain, topped with an inclined roof that mirrors the natural contours of the land.

Design Concept and Spatial Organization

The architects, Joao Lemos and Yang Yang, envisioned a home that balances local building traditions with contemporary comfort. The layout is defined by two intersecting perpendicular volumes:

• Social spaces: kitchen, dining room, and living areas.
• Private spaces: bedrooms and bathrooms.

This cross-shaped design generates four exterior patios, each offering a distinct spatial and experiential quality.

Four Patios: Living with Nature

• North Patio: Facing a cork oak forest, this serves as the main entrance, connecting to an outdoor shower and surfboard storage—merging lifestyle with landscape.
• East Patio: Located beside the kitchen, it captures the morning sunlight, creating an intimate space for breakfast and reflection.
• South Patio: Overlooking orange groves and rolling hills, it extends into a large wooden terrace with shading canopies, ideal for outdoor gatherings and dining.
• West Patio: Designed for guest suites, offering private terraces with serene forest views.

At the heart of the residence lies a central patio where an ancient olive tree grows beneath a circular roof opening. Surrounded by full-height glazing, it becomes a focal point of light, nature, and atmosphere within the home.

Materiality and Tradition

Rooted in local building culture, the project revives rammed earth construction, a sustainable and thermally efficient technique that has defined Alentejo’s rural architecture for centuries. This integration of vernacular craftsmanship and modern design principles ensures both cultural continuity and environmental responsiveness.

Architectural Experience

The X House Alentejo is more than a residence—it is an architectural dialogue between landscape, tradition, and contemporary living. Each patio frames the surrounding environment, while the rammed earth walls, timber elements, and carefully oriented glazing create a home deeply attuned to nature’s rhythms.

All Photographs are works of Yang Yang